Chapter 78 – "The Morning After"
The morning sun filtered through the large windows of the Cortex, casting long beams over blinking monitors and scattered scientific equipment. Barry and Cisco were already there, waiting for something — or more accurately, someone.
No metahuman attack today.
No Earth-level catastrophe to save the world from.
Just Dante.
Cisco paced nervously by the lab bench, wiping his palms on his jeans like they were suddenly too sweaty for comfort.
> "What if Caitlin didn't like how I did Dante's hair?" Cisco muttered, eyes darting to the door.
Barry, seated and calmly sipping a cup of coffee, smirked. "Then you're dead."
Cisco froze mid-step. "Dude... you're my best friend. Save me."
Barry narrowed his eyes. "Are you kidding? Have you met Dante? He's Dante, man. Not even the Flash could save you if he wants you dead."
Cisco let out a nervous laugh but didn't look convinced.
Suddenly, a voice boomed through the Cortex.
> "CiscOOOOOOO!"
Cisco jumped, nearly knocking over his coffee mug.
Barry just smiled, shaking his head.
And then, with that effortless swagger and a flicker of red light that seemed to pulse around him like electricity, Dante walked through the sliding door.
His eyes glowed red—the unmistakable signature of his void force. His hair wasn't just red—it looked like it was sparking with lightning itself, crackling and alive, an extension of the power humming beneath his calm exterior.
Cisco paled.
He shot a quick glance at Barry and immediately ducked behind him, peeking out cautiously.
Dante caught the movement and laughed, the sound low and amused.
> "Relax, Cisco," he said with a grin, the blazing intensity in his eyes fading back into his usual mischievous brown. "I'm not here to rip your head off... yet."
Barry raised an eyebrow. "So... how was the date?"
Dante's smile softened, a rare moment of sincerity lighting his face.
> "Absolutely beautiful. Just like her."
At that moment, the door opened again, and Caitlin stepped inside. She caught the tail end of Dante's compliment, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks.
Dante smirked knowingly, enjoying the effect his words had on her.
Cisco peeked back out from behind Barry and muttered under his breath, "Okay, I think I'm safe—for now."
Barry laughed. "Yeah, dude, you earned it."
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